Celebrating success! Palmira Mofokeng, Phumlisa Magaqa, Asma Ul Haq and Alia Abouatie received their certificates after completing the Intercultural Management programme with a focus on Leadership and Tourism in Africa.

The Centre for Global Engagement (CGE) Staff and Student Mobility Unit, in partnership with the Faculty of Management Sciences, hosted the 7th annual faculty-led Summer School alongside Aalen University of Applied Sciences.

This year’s programme marked another milestone in a collaboration spanning more than two decades, evolving from a simple mobility exchange into a strategic academic partnership rooted in internationalisation, intercultural learning, and shared knowledge creation.

The 2026 Summer School welcomed 26 students from diverse fields, including Business Psychology, Digital Business Management, Industrial Management, Mechanical Engineering, General Management, and Sustainable Vehicle Technologies. Centred on Intercultural Management, the programme explored Leadership in Africa, Doing Business in Africa, and Tourism in Africa. Students engaged critically with Africa’s leadership dynamics, economic landscape, and tourism sector, enriched by their multidisciplinary backgrounds.

The intercultural experience was enhanced by the participation of four CUT students enrolled in the Advanced Diploma in Tourism Management. Their involvement grounded discussions in local realities and fostered meaningful peer exchange, advancing internationalisation at home.

Beyond the classroom, participants toured CUT’s innovation ecosystem, including the Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM), the Product Development Technology Station (PDTS), and the Centre for Applied Food Security and Biotechnology (CAFSaB). The tours showcased CUT’s research strengths and applied technological capabilities, offering international students’ valuable insight into the university’s role in industry and community development.

Cultural immersion formed another important pillar of the programme. Students explored Bloemfontein through a city tour and curated excursions, linking academic content with local social and cultural contexts, an approach that continues to define the CUT’s faculty-led Summer School model.

Students further earned academic credits while developing key global competencies such as adaptability, cross-cultural communication, and context-sensitive leadership. As higher education continues to globalise, initiatives like these strengthen international networks, deepen academic collaboration, and prepare graduates to lead in diverse and interconnected environments.

Through such programmes, CUT reinforces its position as an engaged, globally connected university committed to impactful internationalisation.

Summer School participants from Aalen University and CUT celebrate completing the 2026 programme after an enriching two weeks of learning, collaboration, and cultural exploration.